LOS ANGELES – Doc Rivers doesn’t care how close the contests are, how physical they may be or how poorly the defense may play.

At the first-quarter mark of the marathon NBA season, he wants his Los Angeles Clippers to grind out wins, period.

They did just that Monday, eking out a 121-120 victory over the pesky Portland Trail Blazers in a testy battle that produced plenty of physical evidence.

Blake Griffin experienced difficulty speaking with a few fresh stitches knitted into his lip after Mason Plumlee’s right elbow drilled him during another foul the NBA deemed “an unnatural act.”

Raymond Felton limped out of the media room and commented on how much he ached after logging almost 24 minutes following a two-game absence.

It was Felton’s ball pressure on defense that Rivers credited with the win, and this deep Clippers team (18-7, No. 3 in Western Conference) needs performances like that from role players if it wants to climb over the hump.

Just last week, the Golden State Warriors pounded the Clippers into submission. That followed disappointing losses to the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets, but also a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The talent-laden squad’s window to win its first NBA title in team history is closing fast, with star players Chris Paul and Griffin free to leave after the season. If the players know it – and they must – they aren’t admitting it.

“No pressure on us,” said Paul, who scored 21 points with 14 assists. “I think for us it’s about the process. Competing at a high level every night and building – building. We expect a lot out of ourselves.

“ … We understand how we started the season. We’ve been down, and now we’re trying to pick it back up.”

March 28: Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) celebrates a last second win with teammate center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Leon Halip, USA TODAY Sports

March 18: Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) sits with fans and gets a selfie taken with them after he was introduced before their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Philips Arena. Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

March 14: New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) reacts after being foul during the first quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

March 3: San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard passes the ball as New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis defends during overtime of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Spurs defeated the Pelicans 101-98 in overtime. Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports

Feb 12: New York Knicks owner James L. Dolan sits between Latrell Sprewell and Bernard King while shaking hands with Larry Johnson during the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 7: Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki stretches his legs during the second quarter of the game between the Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 13: Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) acknowledges the crowd after a video following the first quarter of the Celtics game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 8: Houston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after losing control of the ball in a collision with Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph in the first half at Air Canada Centre. Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 27, 2016: Rockets forward Nene, right, exchanges heated words with Mavericks guard Justin Anderson, center, during the first half in Dallas. Both players were assessed technical fouls, and the Rockets won 123-107 as the team piled up eight technicals and two flagrants. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 26, 2016: Mavericks defender Salah Mejri (50) fouls Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) on a drive to the hoop during the second half in New Orleans. Davis shook off the hit and scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Pelicans to a 111-104 win. Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 11, 2016: Thunder guard Russell Westbrook rises up for a two-handed slam during the first half against the Celtics in Oklahoma City. Westbrook's streak of triple-doubles ended at seven, but he still helped rally the Thunder to a 99-96 win. Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 3, 2016: Chicago Bulls guard Isaiah Canaan (0) falls to the court with the ball during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron, Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 2, 2016: Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a foul called against him during the second half of the Boston Celtics 97-92 win over the Sacramento Kings at TD Garden. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 29, 2016: Clippers head coach Doc Rivers is restrained by center DeAndre Jordan as he argues with referee Ken Mauer after receiving a technical foul during the first overtime quarter against the Nets at Barclays Center. Rivers then received a second technical foul and was ejected from the game. Brooklyn won in double overtime. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 23, 2016: Atlanta Hawks guard Malcolm Delaney (5) fight through a screen and is fouled by Jeff Teague (44) in the second half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 12, 2016: New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) and Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) try to defend during the first quarter in a game at Air Canada Centre. Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 10, 2016: A fan displays his support for former Heat star Dwyane Wade after his return to Miami. In his first career game in South Beach as a visitor, Wade helped the Bulls win 98-95. Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 9, 2016: Wizards guard John Wall (2) continues to yell at Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) even after being ejected during the second half in Washington. Wall was tossed for the second straight game, but the Wizards won 118-93. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 4, 2016: Knicks guard Derrick Rose leaves the floor at the United Center in Chicago after his first career game there as a visitor. Rose helped the Knicks win 117-104 in his return to the Windy City. Matt Marton, AP

Nov. 3, 2016: Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) looks on as Thunder guard and former teammate Russell Westbrook (0) shoots a a free throw during the first half in Oakland. Durant torched his former team for 39 points in a 122-96 rout. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 30, 2016: The Clippers huddle during explosive pregame introductions prior to their home opener against the Jazz. Los Angeles sent the crowd home happy with an 88-75 win. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 25, 2016: Kevin Durant soars to the bucket for a one-handed flush during his Warriors debut against the Spurs in Oakland. San Antonio spoiled Durant's night with a 129-100 win. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

The Clippers feature three max players in Paul, Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan, a recipe for winning in today’s superstar driven NBA. With an elite point guard, power forward and center, plus lights-out shooters in JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford, L.A.’s other NBA squad is a true contender.

It’s not enough to simply contend, though. They must prove they can hang with powerhouses like the Warriors, who boast shooters for days and a small-ball game that’s tough to keep pace with.

The defense must tighten up. Blazers guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum easily found high-percentage shots at the top of the key. Rivers says he’ll live with the open twos, but isn’t pleased with the slow-to-react transition defense.

“I think that’s where we slipped the most, and then our on-ball and weak-side defense,” Rivers expressed. “We had a stretch where we were getting steals and getting our hands on the ball. Our deflections have been way down. Those are areas we are going to focus on.”

Griffin felt the Clippers were the aggressor Monday, and it was a heated game. He tussled with Plumlee countless times. Jordan and Blazers swingman Evan Turner were both ejected late.

Griffin wants the team to have “better intensity defensively,” night in and night out. If the Clippers can assert themselves physically when it counts, it could be the difference.

“Just because we’ve had a couple of games that were good, doesn’t mean we’re good,” said Griffin, who posted 26 points and 12 rebounds in his return from a one-game absence. “We still have to keep working, keep improving. We’ve got to keep being better.”